Backseat Mafia Meltchester Vol 2 Preview

Backseat Mafia Festival Preview Article! May 18th 2023 by Andi Cullen. Meltchester is on May 20th

Date published: 19th May 2023

As we slide into the festival season, if you’re looking for something to ease you in gently this weekend then, there’s probably no finer place to be than under the Mancunian Way this Saturday! The coolest venue in town (and not just because their first gig of the year was the coldest I’ve ever been to! I mean, an outdoor gig on a Friday night in February. How many red flags do you need?)

Meltchester is a festival of underground psych, garage rock and post punk music in Manchester, curated by those fine folk at Sour Grapes Records. Where the first edition acted as an Oldham Street takeover spread across the streets famous venues (The Castle, Gullivers and Night & Day) the second iteration is set to take place at Projekts Skatepark (5 mins from Piccadilly Station) on Saturday May 20th.

This is where the smart kids will be hanging out, with the excellent Deja Vega and Avalanche Party doing their collective things, alongside a selection of international and national artists including Acid Dad, Bee Bee Sea, Pyncher and Chemtrails; this festival is an onslaught of non-stop music from 2pm till 11! With the bar sponsored by local brewery Pomona Island, plus an always legendary afterparty due at Big Hands Bar till the early hours for ticket holders! Also if you get down early there will be a limited number of free skate board coaching session to be had for ticket holders (1.30-2.30pm).

This year’s selection of acts will all appear live across one stage in Projekts Skatepark. The live music will sit alongside a selection of food and drink stalls, and a few games (including a Tony Hawk’s Pro-Skater tournament for the coolkids).